Duarte's second in Lugano and Pelucchi's win makes for a great day for Geox-TMC

The new Geox-TMC team got its first ever victory today at the Clasica de Almeria. The team has been threatening for some time now, but today the threatenings came to an end. Former U23 World Champion, Fabio Duarte, came oh so close to grabbing the first win at the GP Lugano, but couldn't get the better of a stellar Ivan Basso in a two-up sprint. Duarte's second place was followed by the elusive first win. The win didn't come from one of the team's established stars, but rather one of its budding stars: recently turned 22 year old Matteo Pelucchi.

Pelucchi had already managed a 4th place finish in the final stage of the Tour of Oman, but jumped three spots higher on the podium today in southern Spain in the race's traditional bunch sprint.

The Lecco native defeated Movistar's seasoned fastman, Jose Joaquin Rojas, by millimeters. Behind the two nearly dead-locked sprinters, Dutchman just coming off a solid six day season, Pim Ligthart of Vacansoleil, followed in third.

"I'm thrilled," says Pelucchi in a team press release. "This is a beautiful day for me. Not only am I happy to celebrate my first victory as a pro, but I also am glad to have given the team the first season win. This victory is the result of a job well done in the first part of the season. I came out of the Tours of Qatar and Oman in great shape. A big thanks to all my teammates; everyone worked really well for the entire day, and they set me up to give it my best in the great final sprint."

The race was marked by aggression; the first big break went clear early on and contained a number of big names, including such luminaries as Christian Vande Velde and the ever present, Jens Voigt. The large move was eventually brought back into the fold by a concerted effort from behind. When that group's time at the head of affairs came to a close, the next move went, and it came from an unlikely culprit, Francisco Ventoso. Ventoso, a noted sprinter, took his second win of the season in the third stage of the Ruta del Sol last week, then suffered a terrible crash the next day. Obviously sufficiently recovered from his crash, the Spaniard set off alone before being joined by Victor Cavedo (Orbea) and the ever aggressive Johnny Hoogerland of Vacansoleil.

Rabobank and a number of other teams worked hard to bring back the leading trio, putting all of their forces into helping Theo Bos take a second consecutive victory. A team of sprinters took turns at the front for Bos, including Freire, Graeme Brown, and Michael Matthews. Unfortunately, a crash early in the race led to Bos retiring late in the day and leaving Rabobank cast adrift after giving everything for Bos.

With five kilometers to go, the trio was finally put to rest and brought back into the fold, setting up a big bunch kick. Despite Rabobank's big efforts at the front all day, they were still in perfect position heading into the final kilometer. With 400 meters to go, things were still looking good for both Oscar Freire and Michael Matthews, but moments later, they nearly ended up in the race fencing, ruining any chances at a high finish. Freire still managed 11th place, but nowhere near the race deciders.

Pelucchi managed to just squeak by Rojas for Geox-TMC's first win. It's an excellent first win for the team and comes on the heels of a number of solid results so far this season for the team. The first win and Duarte's second place as well today will certainly help Geox-TMC's case as they hope for wild card selection to May's Giro d'Italia. The team, which can lay claim to victories in all three Grand Tours through Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre, will be holding their breath until March 7th when the wild card invitations are announced by Giro organizers, RCS.